Seven News Reports NSW Attorney General Wants Games Like GTAIV Banned

The segment used a still from the sex scene minigame from seven-year-old video game GTA: San Andreas, a mode removed from the game before sale and only accessible via an unofficial software patch, during its argument. It also made links between violent video games and the Norway massacre and claimed "England and Norway have banned similar games."

This is misleading. Grand Theft Auto IV is rated 18 by the British Board of Film Classification, and is not banned. Grand Theft Auto IV is rated 18+ by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe's Pan European Game Information system. Norway officially supports PEGI and is represented in the PEGI Council, although there is no specific legislative basis.

Most confusing was Smith's position, with Seven reporting that despite the fact that he has approved the introduction of an R18+ catergory for video games he still wants games like Grand Theft Auto IV banned.

We contacted the Attorney General's office where a spokeperson on hand for clarification.

"We are still firmly committed to the R18+ classification but we don't want any dilution of the Refused Classification category, and games should be assessed accordingly," he said.

"Obviously the Attorney General's expressing his opinion of the game, but obviously these guidelines will be developed over time. His main concern is that if something is grotesquely violent and it merits Refused Classification that it should be refused classification... but we're still on board with R18+; we want that to go ahead."